Comments from the original public meetings about the new building

Library Design Workshop and Brainstorming Session
Discussion Topics and Participants Responses
Thursday July 10, 2003 7pm - 9pm And Monday July 14, 2003 2pm-4pm

Topic #1 What is the Library's image in the community? If you are a Library user, what brings you to the Library? If you are not a Library user, what would bring you to the Library? What are your personal desires for a new Library?

Community oriented, social center, places to meet and socialize
Browser friendly
Green building
Reflect village heritage, part of the village
Emphasis on children, youth oriented
Light & space, views, natural light
Important outside design - youth oriented site plan, outdoor reading areas
Programs, Community events
Unstructured activities
Literacy programs
Quiet - organized space
Access to things we don't own
Collection easy access
Special collections
Larger collection
Current, best sellers
Audio books
Tutorial and classroom area
Special use rooms-children's, mothers, book clubs
Music listening room
Art gallery, crafts display area, exhibit area
Story time area
Sit& read areas, quiet spaces
Adequate parking, parking should be proportional
Computers and technology
Large reading area
Auditorium
Multi media area
Friends of the library room
Local history room
Built in our lifetime
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Topic #2 The Albert Wisner Public Library is the community's connection to reading, life-long learning, and personal enrichment. The Library will provide equal access to materials, facility, current technology, professional expertise and quality service. --Library Mission Statement. What would a new facility include that would better help the Library fulfill its mission statement?

Handicap access
Green long term sustainable
Program space
Art space
Light/quiet area
Exterior illumination for dark/ site lighting & safety
Light/windows/ soft /green/
Little spaces tied together like a farm structure
Niches for special activities
Computer & computer areas
Cozy nooks
Specialized database access - law / science/ medicine
Tutorial areas
Used book store area
Coffee area
More technology
Individual stations and privacy
Lower stacks and better access
Large community room - flexible space
Expanding the collection to encompass all types of literature
Large print collection
Buildings:
Bairds Tavern
Train station
Railroad Green-Beautiful Development
Gilvans Department Store/Port of Call
Clocktower
Sanfordville School
Old Village Hall
Warwick Inn
Red Swan Inn
Saratoga Racing Museum
The existing library
Reformed Church porte cochere
Architectural Details:
Stone buildings/ roof line
Native stone ties in
Esp. exterior/entrance fit with heritage- interior contemporary efficiency
Rolling hills & barns
Look at old photos
Old stone but lots of light
Not elaborate simple is better
Barns
Victorian
Open spacious
Not flashy
Work in existing context
Proportions of small intimate spaces, human scale
Scale and warmth

Topic #3 List two or three buildings, which you feel represent the architectural style of the community. If you are unable to think of the name of a building, describe the details of a significant community building.

Architectural Details:
Stone buildings/ roof line
Native stone ties in
Esp. exterior/entrance fit with heritage- interior contemporary efficiency
Rolling hills & barns
Look at old photos
Old stone but lots of light
Not elaborate simple is better
Barns
Victorian
Open spacious
Not flashy
Work in existing context
Proportions of small intimate spaces, human scale
Scale and warmth

Topic #4: The community has been in need of a larger Library facility since the late 1980's. If we build a Library that meets program and population needs for the next ten years, the facility would be a minimum of 28,000 square feet. Do you think the community is better served by building a smaller facility with the capacity to expand in the near future, or by constructing a facility large enough to serve the community's current and short-term future (up to ten years) needs? Why?

Plan long term/ build short term
Alternates on ballot full & partial funding
Build for long term
Design fully for 28M - plan for exceptions
Budget compatible- compromise no less than 20M sqft
Build full size =only compromise on details
If voters educated, they will fund full project
Identify that expansion later would be more costly
Still plan for future expansion on site
Satisfy space needs with options in design for growth
Gather info on what the community will commit to
Build what is needed now to avoid higher costs at a future date
Build now but with options for future growth

Topic #6: The Library staff has identified six key public spaces for a new facility. Please rank these spaces in importance from 1 - 6 with 1 being the most important and 6 being the least important.

The following ranking is a compilation of individual responses from both sessions. 13 participants did not rank the areas but listed all as equally
important.
#1 -- Adult Collection (Reference, Fiction, and Non-Fiction)

#2 -- Children's Area (Collection, Program Space including Story Time and Craft Area)

#3 -- Circulation and Popular Materials (New Materials, DVD/ Videos, Books on Tape, Magazines)

#4 -- Multi-Purpose Room / Programming Area

#5 - Lobby/Gathering Area

#6 --Young Adult Area

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